Lets not forget Todd Kamps and all the great work he did for 10+ years to build the co. - those were the days... and now a weed ridden deserted building.... Sad part is most of all the people who bought the boats became the sales force who spread the word- and a few good dealers. Was a textbook case in how to grow a company. Now looks like it's going to take a financial miracle to raise it back..

Lips are tight lately.. not that its any of my biz.. but with the way the local economy is here its a sad state. Have run into Kevin a few times but wasn't about to quiz him so just the usual 2nd gen. dock talk I hear.. so don't shoot the messenger but yes some are saying Jack is being "difficult" as 2 groups were serious and ready to play but in the end no deal. One would think that the value of it all would be a downhill graph each day it sits empty. Then again, maybe that's the plan...

They (PQ) just tryed to run with the big dogs Reggie and the others you need alot of $ to run with a company thats backed by Brunswick. I'd bet if they took a step back to the old days spashed a new mold off Woggies 185 XLT and built just the 27 and the 29 they could compete again they lost focus on what people really liked kept sticking money into different models that didnt sell. If the 185 XLT was brought back around 20K they couldn't build them fast enough....my.02

Powerquest built a GREAT boat back when Todd was around.
you can still find early 1990s PQs out on the lake and the still
look great,back in the early 1990s everybody wanted a PQ
they were built well and had a GREAT reputation.
Kevin ran on that reputation for a long time,but you were able to see things change on the boats,they didnt feel as unique as they once did.in the early years you pulled up at the ramp with a Powerquest and other boaters would come by and check the boat out and tell you how they one day like to have one.
Then in the late 90s Kevin got cought up on the STEP and he spent tons of money and man hours on that 30 .
after 2 to 3 years of playing around with the 30 he still couldnt get it right.and in the mid time he took one of their best sellers out of production the 29 enticer.
then when they finally put the 30 into pruduction their was such a big jump in price from the 28 to the 30 that Im sure that didnt help,but Kevin always tried and if you had to you can call and talk to him.
Them Jack took over and place a team of people in to run his business and well we all saw what happend.
I also dont think they will reopen,which is a shame

When did Todd leave as well as when did Kevin leave? Seems the quality of the 2000 and up are the ones really lacking. We looked at new a couple years ago and there was absolutely no comparison.

So, basically Jack wants way more than the company's truly worth?

Not worth much just sitting there

Fast Forward, what was the major differences between the older and newer boats? I have not looked at too many older PowerQuests as there are not very many of them in Kansas. However, I did look at a grunch of new and newer boats when I bought my 2003 PQ. The fit and finish is on par with other major high quality boats and I believe better than most mass produced boats (Baja etc).

I previously owned a Donzi and I would compare the PQ against it in every aspect of build. What really sold me, and now this is a thing of the past , was the customer service. Instant response to any and all requests.

But getting back to the reason for my post, it seems the thread is taking on a slight bashing of later PQ owner/management that is spilling over to build quality of later boats. I do not know if this true or not, but I do know that I am very happy with how mine is screwed together. Maybe I am sensitive to perceptions of PQ or am having a little buyer remorse brought on by the growing idea that the factory might not ever make a come-back, I am not sure.

I do know that I like to read about PQ's and what makes them great boats. I like to read about problems and work arounds from experienced owners. I am disapointed in the angle the tread has taken. It certainly has taken on a pretty somber tone.

I am not giving anyone, especially Fast Forward, a hard time. I guess I am just frustrated by the lack of positive news on the PQ factory front.

Sorry for the long post. Dave

Dave, were you out on Perry Sunday?

If so I was the person in the 290 you said hello to and we were pulling out to head back home. If not there was a boat on Perry that looked a lot like yours there, sharp looking.

Yep, that was us. I hollered at Beth and told her hurry up, there is another PQ on the lake. I saw your trailer topside. You have a good looking boat also. I was hoping to look at the 29 since I have heard so many good things.

Are you coming back down anytime this summer?

I should be back the 24th and 25th of June

I am renting a slip again at the marina dock coutrsy side. feel free to come by and I can show you the boat and the stereo

I went a little overboard on that part

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=122797



Christian